Benfica Faces National Team Amid Injury Concerns in Key Matchup

Lisbon, Portugal — Benfica is set to host Nacional on Saturday, March 8, at 3 p.m. local time in what marks the 25th round of the Primeira Liga. The match will be held at the Estádio da Luz and will be broadcast live on ESPN 2 and Disney+.

Currently second in the league table with 53 points, Benfica trails leaders Sporting by only three points. In their last outing, Benfica secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Boavista.

Head coach Bruno Lage is facing a challenging situation with multiple players sidelined due to injuries. Tiago Gouveia, Manu Silva, and Alexander Bah are confirmed absentees, while Tomás Araújo, Ángel Di María, and Florentino are questionable. Di María and Florentino are recovering from left thigh injuries sustained in February, which could impact the team’s performance.

“We are focusing on the game and will look to field the best eleven possible,” said Lage during a press conference. “Nacional has improved since we last faced them, and we must remain vigilant.”

The expected lineup for Benfica includes Samuel Soares; Leandro Santos, António Silva, Nicolás Otamendi, and Carreras; Orkun Kokçu, Fredrik Aursnes, Bruma, Dahl, and Amdouni; and Andrea Belotti leading the attack.

Historically, Benfica holds a dominant record against Nacional, having won 38 of their 49 encounters, with only four victories for Nacional and seven matches ending in a draw. Notably, Benfica has not lost to Nacional in their last 21 meetings, the most recent being a 2-0 away victory last season.

Nacional recently edged out FC Famalicão 2-1, lifting them to 26 points and providing some cushion from the relegation zone where they surpassed Farense by ten points. However, their away form has been dismal, with only one victory on the road this season.

As for Benfica’s recent form, they experienced a setback in the UEFA Champions League after a series of eight unbeaten matches, including seven wins. Their most recent league defeat occurred on January 25, against Casa Pia, where they lost 3-1.

“Every game is critical for us right now,” added Lage. “We’re in a tight title race, so dropping points is not an option.”

The clash against Nacional is significant not just for the standings but also to maintain momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. After the match, Benfica’s focus shifts to the upcoming challenges within the league and continental competitions.